Does getting a grade below a B disqualify a student from a HOPE (or other) scholarship? No. Financial aid and scholarships have Federal and State requirements. The grade in any one course, including a chemistry course, will neither qualify nor disqualify the student. Scholarship administrators check for “satisfactory academic progress” which is an overall record of activity and performance. Language from the website of the Office of Financial Aid states that… "…HOPE Scholarship students will be checked to see if they are maintaining a minimum 3.0 HOPE GPA at the end of the semesters in which they have attempted their 30th, 60th, 90th hours and at the end of every spring semester." Chemistry instructors assign grades objectively, following a grading scheme that is available in the syllabus each semester. The average grades in our courses are just at or above a B- (i.e., 2.7/4.0). We do not employ "grade inflation," so students from secondary schools where everyone receives an A or B may be shocked to find a different system in place. Parents and guardians need to be aware of these policies . How should a parent assist a student who is having trouble succeeding in chemistry? Above all, parents should be positive and encouraging in their discussions. Entering freshmen are sometimes surprised to realize that, unlike some high schools, UGA does not support “grade inflation” where every student gets an A or a B. However, the Department of Chemistry, like every other department at UGA, is singularly focused on helping students succeed. In addition to carefully-planned lectures and laboratory exercises, we offer countless office hours, study groups, and tutoring plans to assist our students. The three most important pieces of advice for students are these: 1. Focus on understanding concepts and practice by solving problems. Memorization simply does not work in college-level physical sciences. 2. Build study habits that include an hour or so of chemistry study every day. Last-minute cramming for examinations does not work. 3. Seek out the advice of your instructor as soon as you feel you are being challenged by a particular concept or topic. Our instructors provide office hours every week for this exact purpose – take advantage of their willingness to help you.
